TLC Network Homepage
Client: Personal Project
Type: Web
Description: [UPDATE 10/25/11] Recently, Discovery redesigned their homepage, and the final product has some similar features to those I implemented in my mockup. As an aspiring designer, it’s encouraging to have your instincts and solutions validated by professionals.
Designed prior to the advent of social media as well as the property’s expansion into content verticals, the TLC network homepage is in need of a redesign that realigns it with the brand’s current business and editorial priorities. Among the priorities: better advertising unit visibility, social media and vertical content integration, heavier focus on video content.
The solution arrived at tackles these priorities without radically departing from the overall structural look of the page—a decision motivated by the need to keep an overarching aesthetic across all Discovery digital properties. Better advertising unit visibility is achieved by reducing the size of the dynamic rotating lede module and moving the 300x250 ad unit up so that it displays in the above the fold area. Also, a new advertising unit displays between the bottom of the page and the corporate footer.
An additional benefit of shrinking the DRL module is that the extra space allows for placement of three content modules. In the mockup, the modules are used for social media, but the intent is to have them be dynamic to accomodate shifting priorities. A stronger emphasis on video content is achieved via a horizontal dynamic module that allows for a larger number of assets to be displayed. Shifting the orientation of the video module frees up space for the integration of a new multi-tab module featuring vertical content.
As far as small changes: minor color palette tweeks to the background as well as module headlines to better align with the TLC brand.
Role: Design